JP2001136317A - Method for repeating scanning in network - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method by which a peripheral unit connected to a network can automatically repeat a previously executed scanning without the need for re-setting a scan parameter to a parameter used in the previous scanning. SOLUTION: The method that allows a scanner 16 to repeat a preceding scanning in a network 14 including the scanner 16 and a server 10 connected to a client 12, includes steps (20, 36) where server stores a scanning parameter of the preceding scanning received from the client, a step (22) where the scanning parameter of the preceding scanning is extracted in response to the reception of a client inquiry with respect to the scanning parameter of a present scanning from the server, and a step (34) where the present scanning is started by using the scanning parameter of the preceding scanning.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to software and firmware for controlling the scanning function of a scanning peripheral device, and more particularly, to a peripheral device connected to a network utilizing previously used scan parameters. Software and firmware that repeat the scanning operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Scanning peripherals are becoming a major part of the peripheral industry. Users have found that scanning peripherals are useful as input means for characters, graphics and images. Some peripherals combine scanning with other functions. Such multifunction peripherals are some of the more popular because they incorporate multiple convenient functions into a single device. Scanning peripherals and / or multifunction peripherals are increasingly being implemented in networks so that multiple clients can access the service. When connected to the network, the peripheral device is operatively connected to the client via a dedicated peripheral server, which allows the client to interact with the peripheral device using a web browser. Includes software and firmware. Such software and firmware was published by Kupf et al. On September 3, 1998.
No. 09 / 163,791, filed on Dec. 0, and assigned to the assignee of the present application, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] The invention disclosed in the Kumphf et al. Application generally provides an interactive networked client-server scanning method activated and actively managed by a web browser interface on the client. The server creates an interface in the client web browser to launch, modify, and monitor scan jobs and their associated data, using a generic form of software program that allows the client to interact with the server. UR identifying server
Responds to L (universal resource locator) address.

One disadvantage of known scanning peripherals is that
The lack of the ability to repeat previously performed scan operations, whether a stand-alone scan peripheral or a multi-function peripheral. In other words, in the peripheral device that performs the scan operation, the scan parameters such as paper size, resolution, image type, and image format are set to the manufacturer's default settings. Thus, when the desired scan parameters are different from the default scan parameters and are not convenient for the user, the user must change the scan parameters (via the client) for each scan job.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for a peripheral device connected to a network to automatically perform a previously performed scan operation without the need for the user to reset the scan parameters to those used in the previous scan operation. It is to provide an improved method that can be repeated repeatedly.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method wherein the scan parameters of a scan operation are automatically stored and used as parameters for the next scan operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for determining whether a peripheral device newly connected to a peripheral server of a network is of the same type as the peripheral device that performed the previous scan operation. To provide.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for scanning a previously connected peripheral device that has been determined to be of the same type as a previously connected peripheral device. If the parameters are retained and the newly connected peripheral is of a different type than the previously used peripheral, the scan parameters used in the previous scan operation will be the default scan of the new peripheral It is to provide an improved method of resetting the parameters.

[0009] Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention automatically stores the scan parameters used in a previous scan operation and uses the stored parameters to perform the next scan operation, whereby the previous scan operation is performed. It is directed to a method of eliminating the inconvenience of having to manually reset scan parameters to the values used in a previous scan job each time the operation is repeated.

In a broad sense, the present invention is directed to a method in which a server repeats a previous scan operation in a network connected to at least one scanner and at least one client. This way, when the client receives a request to perform a previous scan operation,
Storing the scan parameters of the previous scan operation received by the server from the client. When the client queries the scan parameters of the current scan operation, the scan parameters of the previous scan operation are displayed, and then the current scan operation is performed using the scan parameters of the previous scan operation. Will be

[0012] The present invention also relates to a server operating a scanner in a network having at least one client. The server is connected to the scanner by a network and is adapted to repeat previous scanning operations. The server includes memory for storing scan parameters of a previous scan operation received from the client when a request to perform the previous scan operation is received from the client. The program provides the client with the scan parameters of the previous scan operation when the client queries the server for the scan parameters of the current scan operation. The client initiates the current scan operation using the scan parameters of the previous scan operation in response to a request from the user for the current scan operation.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, the present invention is a Hewlett-Packard company, JETDIRECT.
This is realized in a network system including a network peripheral device server 10 such as a box. JETD
An IRECT box is shown in Hewlett-Packard Company User Manual Part No. 5967-2290, which is incorporated herein by reference. However, the portion of the card that connects the functions of the server 10 to peripheral devices via, for example, a bus interface,
It should be understood that it can be implemented as part of a central processing unit (CPU) of a connected network peripheral. The server 10 is connected by a network 14 to a plurality of clients 12, which are typically personal computers (PCs). The server also operatively connects the client to the scanner 16, which may be a stand alone scan peripheral or a multi-function peripheral (MFP) that performs various functions such as printing and scanning. Server 10 connects in a known manner to a network port via a network interface device (not shown) to allow client 12 to access scanner 16.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a preferred method of repeating a scan operation according to the present invention is shown. When the server 10 is first powered up, the scan parameters stored in the server's Management Information Base (MIB) are each reset to the value -1 (block 18). In the preferred embodiment, there are four scan parameters corresponding to paper size, image type, image format, and dot / inch (dpi) resolution. Therefore, all four MIB values are set to -1, thereby setting the scan parameters to the default settings of the scanner 16, as will be described in further detail below. Note that more or less than four scan parameters can be provided to meet the specific needs of the user and / or peripheral device. When a user requests a scan job by the scanner 16 (block 20), the client 12 queries the server 10 for scan parameters stored on the server (block 22). A preferred protocol for querying the server 10 is
This is SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). However, other known protocols are also contemplated. The scan job request is issued from an appropriate user interface (UI) provided to the client 12.

Next, client 12 determines whether all scan parameters have been read from server 10 (block 24). If all parameters have not been read, it is determined whether the value of the next parameter is -1 (block 26). If the next parameter is -1, the user interface of the client 12 sets that parameter to the default value of the scanner 16 currently connected to the server 10. On the other hand, if the value of the next parameter is not -1, the user interface of client 12 sets the parameter to the value stored in the server (block 30). In either case, the process returns to block 22 and client 12 queries server 10 for the next scan parameters.

If it is determined at block 24 that all scan parameters have been read, the user interface of client 12 indicates the scan parameters to the user (block 32). Next, the user can modify the indicated scan parameters to the desired settings via the user interface and begin the scan operation (block 34). After the scan operation is started, the user interface sends the scan parameters to the server 10 that stores the parameters and exchanges them with the previously stored MIB values (block 3).
6). The server 10 also identifies the type of scanner 16 currently connected and stores the scanner type in the server's memory (block 38). Next, the scanning operation is completed (block 40).

When the server 10 detects that the scanner 16 connected to the server is powered on, or that the scanner has been disconnected from the server and reconnected, the server will reset its "new" scanner to the previous one. Determine if the scanner is in the same family as the scanner that performed the scan operation. A scanner is said to be of the same family if the scanner accepts the same scanning parameters as all other scanners in the family and can use the same scanning protocol. It is important to determine the family of the new scanner 16 since the scan parameters stored in the MIB of the server 10 may not be suitable for the new scanner. Generally, a new scanner 1
When 6 is of the same family, even of different types, the previous scan job can be repeated using the stored parameters.

Turning now to FIG. 3, the server 10 is assumed to be a new scanner 16 when the currently connected scanner is turned on or when the scanner is disconnected and reconnected. When detected, the family type is determined (block 42). next,
The server 10 examines the device identification string of the new scanner 16 to determine its type (block 44) and compares that type with the scanner type previously stored on the server (see block 38 above). ). If the new scanner 16 is the same type or the same family as the scanner type stored in the server memory, the server 1
The scan parameters of the previous scan operation stored at 0 are not changed (block 48), at which point the process ends (block 50). However, the new scanner 16 may have a new scanner 16 stored in server memory.
If not, the scan parameters stored in the MIB of the server memory are reset to -1 (block 52) and the process ends (block 50). By resetting the scan parameter value to -1 as shown in blocks 28, 26 and 32, the scan parameter is changed to the scanner 16 manufacturer's default value.

It is to be understood that the above description has shown and described an improved method of performing a scanning operation having desirable characteristics and advantages. According to the present invention, a user can repeat a scan operation without manually changing a scan parameter to a desired setting value. The present invention also determines the type of scanner each time the scanner is turned on or disconnected, so that the connected scanner belongs to the same family as the scanner that performed the previous operation. Can be determined. The scan parameters stored on the server are then used to perform a repeated scan operation if the connected scanner belongs to the same family.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that other modifications, substitutions and alternatives will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications, substitutions and alternatives can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as determined from the appended claims.

[0021] Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a network system to which the method of the present invention is preferably applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of automatically repeating a previous scan operation in the network system of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of determining whether to keep the scan parameters used in a previous scan operation or change to default settings for a newly connected peripheral device based on the type of the new peripheral device. It is.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 server 12 client 14 network 16 scanner

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing the front page (72) Inventor David A. Kamp 95765, Rockland, Ashland Court 2714, California, USA 2714

Claims (10)

[Claims] At least one scanner and at least one
A method for repeating a previous scan operation in a network including a server connected to one client, wherein the server receives the request from the client in response to receiving a request to perform the previous scan operation from the client. Saving the scan parameters of the previous scan operation and retrieving the scan parameters of the previous scan operation in response to receiving a client query from the server regarding the scan parameters of the current scan operation. And starting the current scan operation using the scan parameters of the previous scan operation. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said scan parameters of said previous scan operation are stored on said server. 3. The client sends the scan parameters of the previous scan operation, the request to perform the previous scan operation, and the query to a server via a user interface of the client. ,
The method of claim 1. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon receiving the request from the client to perform the previous scan operation, storing a scanner type of a scanner that performed the previous scan operation. . 5. When a current scanner connected to the server is powered on and connected to the server and reconnected, the current scanner is the same as the scanner that performed the previous scan operation. Determining whether the family is a family; and retrieving the scan parameters of the previous scan operation when the current scanner is of the same family as the scanner that performed the previous scan operation. Retrieving default scan parameters when the current scanner is not in the same family as the scanner that performed the previous scan operation; and When the same family as the executed scanner, the scan of the previous scan operation is performed. Performing the step of initiating the current scan operation using the current scan operation, and setting the default scan parameters when the current scanner is not in the same family as the scanner that performed the previous scan operation. Initiating the current scan operation using the method. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein for any of the scan parameters of the previous scan operation, when the any of the scan parameters are not available, the step of retrieving retrieves default scan parameters. The described method. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of presenting to the user one of the scan parameters and the default scan parameters of the previous scan operation after the retrieving step. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the scan parameters of the previous scan operation and the default scan parameters are:
The method of claim 7, wherein the method is displayed by a user interface of the client. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the scanner is one of a scan peripheral and a multifunction peripheral. 10. A server connected to the scanner via the network for operating the scanner in a network having at least one client and adapted to repeat a previous scanning operation, the server comprising: Means for storing the scan parameters of the previous scan operation received from the client in response to receiving a request to perform the scan operation of the client, and a client query to the server for scan parameters of the current scan operation Means for providing the client with the scan parameters of the previous scan operation, responsive to the request of the current scan operation from the client, using the scan parameters of the previous scan operation. The current Server that includes a means for initiating a down operation, the.